Unit 8: Physiology of Human Body Systems
I have been employed as a Trainee Health Care Assistant within the Occupational health department by a large
sports and fitness company. My employers are concerned that a number of working days are lost due to employee
absences linked to musculoskeletal disorders. I have been asked to carry out research in order to produce
information about the structure and function of the musculoskeletal system, and the treatments which are available
for those coping with disorders of the system. In order to educate employees who don’t know much about the topic
the company management team hopes this will reduce absences and will help employees return to work in the
shortest possible time.
The musculoskeletal system carries out many functions including Protection, Attachment for skeletal muscle, storing
muscle, producing blood cells, and maintaining mineral homeostasis.
Support
The features of the body work together to provide a framework for soft tissues and muscles in the body. When
working together maintain your body’s posture and support your body’s weight helping you to move. The bones of
the pelvis, spine, and legs enable us to stand upright, and support our entire body weight.
Protection
One role of the musculoskeletal system is to protect the body, including protecting internal organs by surrounding
them with a bone to protect them from damage. It also protects your organs reducing the risk of injury and impact
example of this is how the cranium/ skull protects the brain, and another example is how the ribs protect the lungs
and the heart.
Attachment for skeletal muscle
The skeletal muscle is one of the major muscle types in the body out of three the others being smooth muscle and
cardiac muscle. Most of the skeletal muscles are attached to bones by bundles of fibres which are called tendons.
Bones all have unique shapes so that they can fit into attachment points.
Storing minerals
Bones are made from minerals themselves, but they also store calcium and phosphorus, which is important and
needs to be maintained as it is critical for the function of many organs in the body, in particular nerves and muscle,
as it can be given up if the body is in need of minerals for other functions.
Producing Blood cells
,Large bones contain bone marrow, which is a spongy tissue which is located inside the bones, marrow comes in two
different types including red and yellow. The red marrow contains Haematopoietic stem cells which are responsible
for the production of the red blood cells, and white blood cells the body produces. On average in your body
approximately 200 million red blood cells are produced every day, these red blood cells are very important to the
body as they carry oxygen around the body and to the body tissues. Bones in the body which contain marrow include
the sternum, pelvis, clavicle, and the vertebrae.
Maintaining mineral homeostasis
For bones to be responsive to the various demanding tasks they have to bear they have to contain ample supplies of
the nutrient’s calcium and phosphorus. When there is a short supply of these minerals, they are taken out of the
body by regulating hormones so that they can serve in other parts of the body where they are vital. A side effect of
this is that repeated withdrawals can weaken the bone leading to common bone disorders, and fractures.
What is bone made from?
Bone is made of collagen, a protein, and calcium which works as a framework for the body and makes bones hard
and strong so that they can withstand stress and be flexible. A network of membranes and blood vessels cover/
wrap around most bones, its name is periosteum, and its role is to deliver a blood supply and give bones a sense of
feeling. 99 percent of the calcium that your body contains is found inside your bones and your teeth, and the
remaining 1 percent is found inside your blood. In the body, there are 2 types of bone including cortical and
trabecular. Cortical bone is very compact and dense, whereas trabecular bone has a honeycomb structure and is
very spongy.
Various Bone types
Our skeleton is made up of a number of different bone types including Long Bones, Short bones, Flat bones, Irregular
bones, and sesamoid bones. I will now provide further detail on all of these different types of bones including what
they are, the role they carry out, and examples.
Long bones
Long bones are very wide as they contain a thick layer of compact bone on the outside and a medullary cavity on the
inside which contains bone marrow. Spongy bone and epiphyseal cells line the ends of long bones. The role of long
bones is to provide strength, mobility, and structure to the body. Examples of long bones in the body include the
femur, tibia, fibula etc.
Short Bones
Unlike long bones short bones have very equal proportions and are shaped roughly like a cube it is mainly made up
of spongy bone and they can be found/ located in the bones of your wrists and ankles, and their job is to
provide stability, and sometimes help facilitate movement. Other short bones in the
body include Tarsals and carpals.
, Flat bones
Flat bones include the rib bones and the skull, Flat bones are made up of a spongy bone marrow which is
sandwiched between two layers of compact bone, they have a flat shape and are not rounded hence the name. Flat
bones help the musculoskeletal system as muscles provide large areas of attachment, they can also provide
protection.
Irregular Bones
Irregular bones are bones that do not fit into any category (Long, short, flat, and sesamoid) as they vary in shape.
They are made of a layer of spongy bone which is covered with a thin layer of compact bone. Irregular bones have
many roles in the musculoskeletal system and the body such as helping protect internal organs as they have a very
complex shape. They also protect the nervous tissue and provide multiple anchor points in the body for skeletal
muscle attachment. Examples of irregular bones in the body include the: sacrum, vertebrae, coccyx, etc.
Sesamoid Bones
Sesamoid bones are relatively small in size and have a rounded structure, commonly they are located in close
proximity to the joints and are sometimes found embedded within the muscle. A common example of a sesamoid
bone in the body is the patella, which is referred to commonly as the kneecap.
I have been employed as a Trainee Health Care Assistant within the Occupational health department by a large
sports and fitness company. My employers are concerned that a number of working days are lost due to employee
absences linked to musculoskeletal disorders. I have been asked to carry out research in order to produce
information about the structure and function of the musculoskeletal system, and the treatments which are available
for those coping with disorders of the system. In order to educate employees who don’t know much about the topic
the company management team hopes this will reduce absences and will help employees return to work in the
shortest possible time.
The musculoskeletal system carries out many functions including Protection, Attachment for skeletal muscle, storing
muscle, producing blood cells, and maintaining mineral homeostasis.
Support
The features of the body work together to provide a framework for soft tissues and muscles in the body. When
working together maintain your body’s posture and support your body’s weight helping you to move. The bones of
the pelvis, spine, and legs enable us to stand upright, and support our entire body weight.
Protection
One role of the musculoskeletal system is to protect the body, including protecting internal organs by surrounding
them with a bone to protect them from damage. It also protects your organs reducing the risk of injury and impact
example of this is how the cranium/ skull protects the brain, and another example is how the ribs protect the lungs
and the heart.
Attachment for skeletal muscle
The skeletal muscle is one of the major muscle types in the body out of three the others being smooth muscle and
cardiac muscle. Most of the skeletal muscles are attached to bones by bundles of fibres which are called tendons.
Bones all have unique shapes so that they can fit into attachment points.
Storing minerals
Bones are made from minerals themselves, but they also store calcium and phosphorus, which is important and
needs to be maintained as it is critical for the function of many organs in the body, in particular nerves and muscle,
as it can be given up if the body is in need of minerals for other functions.
Producing Blood cells
,Large bones contain bone marrow, which is a spongy tissue which is located inside the bones, marrow comes in two
different types including red and yellow. The red marrow contains Haematopoietic stem cells which are responsible
for the production of the red blood cells, and white blood cells the body produces. On average in your body
approximately 200 million red blood cells are produced every day, these red blood cells are very important to the
body as they carry oxygen around the body and to the body tissues. Bones in the body which contain marrow include
the sternum, pelvis, clavicle, and the vertebrae.
Maintaining mineral homeostasis
For bones to be responsive to the various demanding tasks they have to bear they have to contain ample supplies of
the nutrient’s calcium and phosphorus. When there is a short supply of these minerals, they are taken out of the
body by regulating hormones so that they can serve in other parts of the body where they are vital. A side effect of
this is that repeated withdrawals can weaken the bone leading to common bone disorders, and fractures.
What is bone made from?
Bone is made of collagen, a protein, and calcium which works as a framework for the body and makes bones hard
and strong so that they can withstand stress and be flexible. A network of membranes and blood vessels cover/
wrap around most bones, its name is periosteum, and its role is to deliver a blood supply and give bones a sense of
feeling. 99 percent of the calcium that your body contains is found inside your bones and your teeth, and the
remaining 1 percent is found inside your blood. In the body, there are 2 types of bone including cortical and
trabecular. Cortical bone is very compact and dense, whereas trabecular bone has a honeycomb structure and is
very spongy.
Various Bone types
Our skeleton is made up of a number of different bone types including Long Bones, Short bones, Flat bones, Irregular
bones, and sesamoid bones. I will now provide further detail on all of these different types of bones including what
they are, the role they carry out, and examples.
Long bones
Long bones are very wide as they contain a thick layer of compact bone on the outside and a medullary cavity on the
inside which contains bone marrow. Spongy bone and epiphyseal cells line the ends of long bones. The role of long
bones is to provide strength, mobility, and structure to the body. Examples of long bones in the body include the
femur, tibia, fibula etc.
Short Bones
Unlike long bones short bones have very equal proportions and are shaped roughly like a cube it is mainly made up
of spongy bone and they can be found/ located in the bones of your wrists and ankles, and their job is to
provide stability, and sometimes help facilitate movement. Other short bones in the
body include Tarsals and carpals.
, Flat bones
Flat bones include the rib bones and the skull, Flat bones are made up of a spongy bone marrow which is
sandwiched between two layers of compact bone, they have a flat shape and are not rounded hence the name. Flat
bones help the musculoskeletal system as muscles provide large areas of attachment, they can also provide
protection.
Irregular Bones
Irregular bones are bones that do not fit into any category (Long, short, flat, and sesamoid) as they vary in shape.
They are made of a layer of spongy bone which is covered with a thin layer of compact bone. Irregular bones have
many roles in the musculoskeletal system and the body such as helping protect internal organs as they have a very
complex shape. They also protect the nervous tissue and provide multiple anchor points in the body for skeletal
muscle attachment. Examples of irregular bones in the body include the: sacrum, vertebrae, coccyx, etc.
Sesamoid Bones
Sesamoid bones are relatively small in size and have a rounded structure, commonly they are located in close
proximity to the joints and are sometimes found embedded within the muscle. A common example of a sesamoid
bone in the body is the patella, which is referred to commonly as the kneecap.
